Nicklas Backstrom may not have played for nearly two years, but the 37-year-old center was impressive in his first game back with Brynäs IF.
In Brynäs’s 4-1 preseason win over Timrå IK, the legendary former Capital registered two points, including a stunning primary assist on a Jakob Silfverberg power-play goal that had vintage Backstrom-to-Ovechkin vibes.
Speaking to Aftonbladet after the game, Backstrom admitted that he had a lot of nerves coming into the contest.
“To be completely honest, it was a bit of a whirlwind, I haven’t played in a while,” Backstrom said to Aftonbladet in Swedish and translated by Google Translate. “I was pretty nervous before the match, too. You get a little nervous and a little more passive, maybe. But now I’ve played the first match, and now I’m going to try to work more and more into it.”
When asked if he was worried his surgically repaired hip would hold up, Backstrom said no.
“Nothing physical,” he said. “It was mostly because I hadn’t played in a while and… I haven’t played in Swedish hockey in a while either. But it was really fun.”
During the conversation, Backstrom revealed that he was unaware of the excitement and expectations that fans and analysts had for him this year back in the SHL. “I don’t usually put that much energy into things that are talked about around me,” he admitted.
As for his decision to restart his playing career despite his last two seasons in the NHL ending on long-term injured reserve, Backstrom said, “It was a fantastic feeling to put on the Brynäs jersey again. I’m happy about that.”
